Engine starter for automotive vehicles



July 3, 1951 G. L. DU ROSTU 2,558,331

ENGINE STARTER FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES I Filed March 14, 1950 A Hvrn Patented July 3, 1951 ENGINE STARTER FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES Georges Levesque Du Rostu, Paris, France, as-

signor to Societe Anonyme Andre Citroen, Paris, France, a French corporation Application March 14, 1950, Serial No. 149,533 In France March 15, 1949 3 Claims. (-01. 74-7) The invention relates to devices for starting the engines of motor road vehicles and like engines.

It is known to start automobile engines by means of an auxiliary electric motor known as the starting motor. In these known devices, at the time of starting the shaft of the electric motor is solidly connected by means of a movable pinion with a toothed ring mounted on the engine shaft. It has also been proposed to leave the pinion driven by the starter and the ring permanently in engagement and to mount the ring in such a way that it is solidly connected with the engine shaft only at the time of starting.

The invention relates more particularly to a device of this latter type, in which the ring is solidly connected with the engine flywheel at the time of starting by means of a fixed magnetic winding.

According to the invention, the toothed ring is mounted on a fixed drum along which it may slide within given limits under the action of the magnetic field from a winding which is fixed on the drum, the ring being returned into its original position under the action of a spring or other elastic member, when the winding is de-energised.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing which illustrates, by way of example, one constructional form of the invention, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation, partly in section, of a starting device made in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a partial front view of the toothed ring.

As above described, the invention consists in making the ring I of the starter solid with the engine flywheel '2 by means of a magnetic winding which is fixed in position.

In the constructional form illustrated, the starter 3 is in engagement with the ring I through the intermediary of a pinion 4 fixed to the shaft of the starter, the ring l and the pinion A being permanently in mesh.

The ring I is arranged coaxial to the engine flywheel 2 and at a small distance therefrom, this flywheel having adjacent its periphery a groove in which is located a circular magnetic winding 6, which however, is not in contact with the flywheel. The winding 6 is fixedly mounted on a stationary drum and supports the toothed ring I through the intermediary of balls or rollers disposed at various places; to this end on its inner surface the ring has a groove co-operating with a groove provided on the drum in such a way as to form a housing for the balls, thus providing for axial displacement of the ring relatively to the drum.

Between the starter 3 and the pinion 4 there is provided a free wheel device 3. of such kind that when the engine starts it does not tend to drive the starter above the proper speed thereof.

Finally a return device is provided, which may comprise a spring 9 tending to keep the ring spaced apart from the engine flywheel.

The operation of the device is as follows: In order to start it is only necessary to pass current through the winding 6. The ring I is attracted and is pressed against the flywheel 2, so as to form a solid block therewith. At this time current is supplied to the starter, which drives the whole assembly through the intermediary of the pinion 4. In order to disconnect the starter it is only necessary to interrupt the current in the starter and in the Winding 6. The ring I moves away from the flywheel 2 and returns to the inoperative position under the action of the return device 9.

The invention is not limited to the particular constructional form described and modifications or variants may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set out in the following claims. 7

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A device for starting the engines of motor road vehicles and like engines comprising a starting motor and meansfor connecting said starting motor to the flywheel of the engine to be started, said means comprising a shaft driven by the starting motor, a pinion mounted on said shaft, a toothed ring arranged coaxially with said flywheel and permanently engaging said pinion, said ring being slidably mounted in an axial direction, a fixed magnetic winding, a drum also arranged coaxially with said flywheel and supporting said Winding between said flywheel and said toothed ring, and means for energising said winding to move said toothed ring into a position in which it is locked to said engine flywheel, thereby operatively connecting said starting motor to said engine flywheel.

2. A device according to claim 1 in which said flywheel is formed with a groove to accommodate said winding.

3. A device for starting the engines of motor road vehicles and like engines comprising a starting motor and means for connecting said starting motor to the flywheel of the engine to be started, said means comprising a shaft driven by the starting motor, a pinion mounted on said shaft, a toothed ring arranged coaxially with said flywheel and permanently engaging said pinion, said ring being slidably mounted in an axial direction, a fixed magnetic winding, a drum also arranged fzoaiiial ly with said flywheel and supporting said winding between said flywheel and said toothed ring, a ball or roller support on said drum, said toothed ring being mounted on said ball or roller support, and means for energising said Winding to move said toothed ring into "a position in which it is locked to said engine flywheel, thereby operatively onn'eoting said start"- ing motor to said engine flywheel.

GEORGES LEVESQUE DU ROSTU.

4 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS N'ufiibr Name Date 1,284,350 Aichele NOV. 12, 1918 1,962,706 Callsen et al June 12, 1934:

' FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 49,805 France May 1, 1939 

